Part of the newlywed experience is figuring out a new holiday schedule. We go back and forth each time deciding if we should visit my parents, Husband’s parents, both sets of parents, or celebrate on our own. We were in the middle of another merry-go-round discussion, when I had a stroke of brilliance to switch things up and host our first family holiday at the Bungalow!
Thankfully, my family graciously agreed and all shuffled on down for a delightful end-of-summer Labor Day celebration.
Family gatherings always seem more relaxed to me because I know they’ll still love me if I burn the potatoes or forget to scrub the bathtub. Family also makes me feel more laid back because I know they will help share in the meal preparation and will help themselves to anything out of my cupboards.
My new hosting strategy is elevating expectations by one level. For example, instead of your usual cook-out foods of hamburgers, garden salad, fruit salad, chips, and soda, I stepped everything up just one notch with Blue Cheese Burgers, Blueberry Corn Salad (aka, THE BEST SALAD I’VE EVER MADE), Caprese Salad, and Garlic and Herb Roasted Potatoes served with Peppermint Lemonade and Blackberry Iced Tea.
Impressive entertaining doesn’t have to mean calamari and caviar-just fresh, flavorful surprises.
We wrapped up the day with Mom’s incredible Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte and a walk in the 100 Acre Woods.
Simple and sweet: the way I want all holidays to be.
How did everyone else spend their holiday?
The Love Bungalow 
Fun!!
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Looks Tasty
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no holidays for this year 😦 , btw the food looked delicious, the first one, mozarella and tomato is my fav salad, my husband also adds some tuna and caesar dressing, taste amazing as well!
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Ooh, I wouldn’t have thought of that! Thanks for sharing the idea!
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